Princess Academy: Palace of Stone

Princess Academy: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale

Back in 2006, readers were introduced to Princess Academy by Shannon Hale when it gained attention for acquiring a Newbery Honor Award. It was loved considerably more than the Newbery Award Winner that year, Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins which I could no longer summarize for you without taking a gander at the book jacket. But Princess Academy? All of the girls and their mothers and grandmothers were enchanted. Even the cover art from the original publishing was endearing. It was no surprise that it ended up on the Rebecca Caudill list of nominees two years later. Before you pick up the sequel, Palace of Stone, you simply must start with the best.

In the first novel, we meet Miri, a common mountain girl born in the poor community of Mount Eskel. While her mind is sharp, her body is small and she must stay at home and tend the goats while the rest of the family heads to the quarry to mine the local stone known as linder. When traders arrive to exchange supplies for linder, they have a guest among them. It is a royal magistrate, speaking on behalf of the royal family, and he has an announcement to make. On the prince’s last birthday, the priests divined that his bride-to-be would be found on the steps of Mount Eskel. 

The next day, the girls of eligible age from each home are rounded up and marched off to a makeshift Princess Academy. Miri is among them. All of the Eskelite girls are required to learn the history of their kingdom, Danland, as well as the etiquette of a noble’s life in court. More importantly, they also learn to read. Miri’s sharp mind absorbs the information readily and quickly. Not only is she able to save the students of the Princess Academy when disaster strikes, but she is also able to improve the economy of Eskel. She discovers that the traders have been cheating the Eskelites for centuries. Linder is precious in the lowlands and fetches a pretty price. 

Princess Academy was perfect as a stand-alone. It was delightful and nothing additional was required. But it did leave you hungry for more novels written by Shannon Hale. Thankfully, there have been plenty! And if you have a penchant for princess tales, look no further! Ms. Hale is your author. And yet seven years later, the story of Miri continues. While it is not quite as brilliant as the first, I still loved it. And while it could also stand on its own… why skip one of the best children’s/YA books published recently? 

Not long after the princess elect was chosen and spirited off to Asland, the royal seat of the kingdom, the graduates of the Princess Academy are called upon to be ladies-in-waiting and assist the bride-to-be for her upcoming nuptials. They are brought down from their mountain and introduced to the life of lowland nobles. The girls are given a dorm room in the castle and are expected to help in creating a trousseau for the princess-to-be.

The girls are overwhelmed by the glory that is the castle. It is made entirely out of linder from Mount Eskel. Walking upon and under and through and around the castle is like being at home. They are also overwhelmed by the tasks at hand. Very shortly, the girls are given respite from sowing and embroidery to look after their own skills and amusements. One girl goes to work in a forge. One girl begins to play with the musicians. One girl seeks a noble husband and another discovers medicine within the books of the Queen’s library! 

Then there is Miri who is fortunate to be able to attend the Queen’s Castle, a University, because of the bridal dowry. She is introduced to mathematics, science, engineering, law, music, art, astronomy, history, logic, rhetoric, theology, and ethics. But she is also made aware of the inequality between the nobles and the common people – the privileged and the shoeless. Miri’s reputation has preceded her. She is already a hero and a legend among the common man for standing up to the traders for a fair market value in trade for the linder stone. And the would-be revolutionaries are looking for someone to lead them.  

As much as Miri agrees that things must change before the King seeks an impossible tribute of the still humble people of Mount Eskel, she doesn’t want to do anything to jeopardize the already tenuous position of the bride-elect… 

I agree with my sister. I do not care for the new covers. They are dull and will quickly date themselves. However, there is so much more than a fairy tale within the cover of this sequel. Learn a bit about ethics, economy, rebels and revolutionaries! Highly recommended SERIES to girls 6^th grade and above!